Skip to main content

What today would have been.....


As most who read this know, I enjoy birthdays. Your birthday is your personal holiday. Today would have been my brother Richard's 50th birthday.

I think we would have gone to the nursing home with a cake, ice cream, pop, and some presents, probably books, some DVD's and a hand held game.

Ricky was the same way with birthdays. He knew when everybody's birthday was and their ages. This included all of his nieces, nephews, and my three grandchildren. He would call us up on our birthdays and sing "Happy Birthday." If he could afford it he would have one of us pick him up so he could buy presents. Or if he won something playing bingo, he would give it as a gift.

To those new to this blog, Ricky passed away March 4 of this year. Kathy and I were his guardians, as I had promised my mother before she died in 2004 that we would take care of him. He had been unable to walk the last 20 years of his life and his mental capacity had dimished due to seizure activity.

He was a character and he lives on through our memories of things he had said and done.

Also to those new to here: I wrote several posts about Ricky and his life in March.
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
I am sorry you lost your brother so young. I am glad he still lives on happily in your heart and you can celebrate his life and his love.
September 18, 2008 2:19 AM
Pat Jenkins said…
happy birthday ricky!!!
September 18, 2008 7:28 AM
Anonymous said…
Ricky was fortunate to have a brother like you!
September 18, 2008 9:27 AM
Connie said…
This is a very touching tribute to your brother, Cliff. I'm sorry to hear that he passed at such a young age. You are lucky to have some very wonderful memories of happy times with him that help you keep his spirit with you. Thank you for sharing them.
September 18, 2008 10:17 AM
Anonymous said…
Yes, so sad, but what a wonderful brother. I can't say that either of my brothers remember MY birthday or any of my children!

Just the same, cherish the memories.

Bella
September 18, 2008 1:37 PM
Anonymous said…
So glad that you have such wonderful memories,I know that you miss him but he still lives on in your life
frasypoo
September 18, 2008 3:17 PM
Melanie said…
Happy Birthday...you are a very sweet brother. He died very young. My father passed away March 2006 at 53...I miss him.
September 18, 2008 4:15 PM
Anonymous said…
Cliff...a few things. I'm happy Mrs. WIXY is getting better.

Secondly, I wish you the best in looking for a new car.

Lastly, Your post is a great tribute to your brother. We all should have brothers that loving that caring.
September 18, 2008 4:31 PM
Jen said…
Happy 50th to Ricky! You are a great brother!!!...I went back and read aobut your buddy a while back that you wrote here. I know he's looking forward to seeing you again. :)
September 18, 2008 6:53 PM
Busy Bee Suz said…
This is heartbreaking and inspiring. So Sory for Ricky..so sorry he is missing out on life with you and your family.....
I have some similar stories in my famuly too. Tough stuff.
When I got on your page and I heard the theme from "sanfor and Son", that just make me smile.
That is my hubbys new ringtone.
Small world.
Wishing you and yours all the best.
Take care,
Suz
September 19, 2008 11:49 PM
Liquid said…
..........And the Angels speak.
September 22, 2008 12:16 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Post 800: Time to chat

Hi Guys, It's hard to believe that this is post number 800 for this blog. I started this blog out of my desire to communicate. Since radio and television is becoming more and more automated and less and less personal, I'm glad I made the decision to go in this direction as it has given me many blessings. When I first decided to write my musings, a friend from the radio and television boards who goes by the name of newsnomore, told me not to be discouraged if I didn't get any readers. The fact that I did in the early going made me surprised and grateful that anyone was enjoying what I wrote. I've had people tell me that maybe it wasn't meant for me to ever be in radio, that maybe my calling was blogging. Nowadays I think blogging makes for better two way conversation than terrestrial radio, especially the way I do it, non confrontational. The closest I come from any confrontation is the innocent digs that Pat and I shoot at each other. On an average day I get betwee...
12 comments
Read more

Lawson's Chip Dip

On a couple of occasions I have written posts dedicated to Lawson's, a convenience store chain that was located in Ohio for close to 50 years. In the late 1980's the chain was bought out by Dairy Mart, of Engfield Ct. Dairy Mart was then purchased by Alimentation Couche-Tard, and most stored were rebranded Circle K. Something that has survived the years since Lawson's has left the landscape is Lawson's Chip Dip. I get many hits on this blog from people out of Ohio, I'm thinking former Buckeyes, looking for availability of this chip dip. I had gotten an email from a former resident of Cleveland looking for it. I emailed Circle K about this sometime ago asking if it was possible to send the dip out to those out of state, they said because of quality issues that it was not possible. My only suggestion would be to get in touch with Circle K in your home area and ask them to start stocking this very popular item that seems to make every get-together complete. Now we wil...
28 comments
Read more

30 Years Ago Today........

Kathy and I said "I do." Through better and worse, rich and poor, in sickness and in health, we have been together. I love her as much now as I did March 10, 1979. What follows is a classic post from a year ago. As my long time readers know, my brother Richard passed away last year on March 4. He had spent the last 20 years of his life in a wheelchair and the last 8 living in nursing homes. Kathy had become Ricky's guardian angel after my dad passed away and my mother's health had started deteriorating. On April 4, 2004, Kathy went to the nursing home where Ricky had resided at 5:30am to tell him that our mother had passed away. Here's what I had wrote a year ago: "Ricky liked her first and foremost, because she was my wife. Kathy would take time to listen to what Ricky had to say when others were too busy for him. Ricky knew that Kathy liked iced tea. One time when he knew that we were coming up for a holiday cookout, he made 27 gallons of sun tea. I guess h...
30 comments
Read more